I previously spotlighted
space simulator programs. The Space
Simulations section lists many dozens
of programs that provide a wide range of simulated
space activites such as launching rockets
of all sorts, landing on the Moon, roving
Mars, living in a space station, etc.. Below
is a sampling of some of these programs.
Planetary
Rover HyperKat
Games
Explore the surface of Mars with your
rover vehicle. See also the new Mars
Colony ETS simulation program, which
provides "an immersive first person
3D graphics experience."
Exoflight
This open source Java program provides
simulation of Gemini, Apollo, and
Space Shuttle missions
Windows
on Earth
This free on line program simulates
the view from the ISS window of the
earth as it passes beneath the station.
It's
a Whole New Outer Space Out There
SpaceX Falcon 9 Progress
SpaceX
continues to make progress towards development
of lower cost space transportation. Last year
they successfully
launched their Falcon
1 small launcher for the first time. By the
end of the year they had carried out a full
duration test firing of the 9 engine first
stage of the big Falcon
9 vehicle and fully integrated the vehicle
at its facility at Cape Canaveral. The time sequence
below shows the first raising of a Falcon 9 last
week at the SLC-40 pad at Cape Canaveral. The
first launch of the vehicle is expected this summer.
The company recently won
a $1.6B contract with NASA to deliver cargo
to the International Space Station. SpaceX plans
eventually to launch people with the vehicle.
This
video shows the raising of the first
Falcon 9 on the SLC-40
pad at Cape Canaveral. The first flight
is expected this summer.